PhD Application & Timeline

Applicants should begin by completing and submitting the online application via The Graduate School. The PhD is administered by The Graduate School but is taught by Bienen School faculty.

NOTE: The fall 2025 PhD application will open September 10, 2024.

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Applications for the PhD in Music are due December 1, 2024.

Those invited to our interview round will receive comprehensive information about this year’s interview process via email.

In addition to completing the online application form, candidates should submit/upload the following:


Instructions

Please upload these materials to the online application via The Graduate School. If you are unable to upload some materials to the application due to a large file size or an unconventional format, you are welcome to upload the files to an external website, such as Google Drive, YouTube, or Vimeo, and provide a link to these files within your application along with an explanatory document. Emailed attachments and/or emailed links to external sites will not be accepted.

You also have the option to send these supplemental materials to the Bienen School Office of Music Admission, Financial Aid and Graduate Services. Mailed materials should arrive in our office by the application deadline of December 1, 2024.

Please address all mailed materials to:

Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Office of Music Admission, Financial Aid and Graduate Services
Attn.: PhD Application Processing
70 Arts Circle Dr. 
Evanston, IL 60208-2405